It was an accidental collision of two lives. A moment of serendipity. Like a bird flying into a window, I was immersed in my own world, lost in the pages of my book, when suddenly, without warning, I crashed into him.
It was like hitting a brick wall, a solid mass that stopped me in my tracks, a physical impact that took my breath away. It was a moment of physical connection, a sudden, and jarring reminder of the world outside my book. The library walls seemed to close in around us, the bookshelves towering over us like giants, the silence echoing.
The boy who stood before me;
Mesmerizing and enchanting, he held a hypnotic allure, making it impossible for me to divert my gaze. His curly hair formed a halo around his face, soft waves of brown catching the light. Eyes as deep and captivating as the summer ocean sparkled with mischief. His lips, full and inviting, carried a smile that could illuminate any room.
He embodied the essence of fairy tales—a knight in shining armor, a living Prince Charming. Like a character sprung from romance novels, he fulfilled every girl's dreams, embodying my deepest desires. He personified the qualities I longed for, the traits I had only dreamed of. He was my fantasy turned reality, a living, breathing Prince Charming, and I found myself hopelessly, utterly, and completely enchanted.
“For fuck's sake!” The tone of his voice echoed in the silence, startling me out of my daydreaming. “Watch where you're going! Don't just go around bumping into guys like that,”
I blinked a few times, at the realization of the true facade he wore.
It frightened me.
His tone was harsh, cutting like a knife, and I felt myself shrink in the face of his anger. And his words, a bucket of cold water dousing the fire that had burned within me. Leaving me chilled and empty.
I could sense his desire for an apology, but I was too caught up in my emotions to offer one. I was stuck in a state of paralysis, unable to move or speak, lost in the storm of my thoughts.
“Apologize, you stupid bitch. Don't just stand there looking like a fool. Cat got your tongue, idiot?”
I gulped. Jesus Christ! The cruelty of his words hit me like a slap in the face. I kept my eyes averted, unable to meet his gaze, to face the coldness I knew would be up there.
“Dumbass,” he uttered. His cold stare sweeping over me, evaluating me from top to button
“I'm sorry_” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them, an automatic response to the pain I felt. It sounded hollow and insincere even to my own ears. I knew it was too little, too late, but I couldn't help myself.
“Doesn't change anything,” he smirked. His voice flat and emotionless. His shoulders brushed against mine as he walked past me and my knees threatened to buckle, I had to steady myself against the shelf.
The fact that I'm a dumbass. I totally agree. Stupid me. I felt like a complete fool for apologizing to someone who had just insulted me for no reason.
“Zoey!”
A voice rang out, sharp pitched and slightly nasal. The silence of the library amplifying the sound.
I knew the voice Instantly. It was a voice I'd known for years. It belonged to Melissa. She emerged from the side entrance of the library and when she turned the corner, she saw me standing there, and a look of relief flashed across her face.
“You could've gotten me in a world of trouble,” she said. An edge of laughter in her voice despite the concern in her eyes. She walked towards me, her backpack slung over her shoulder. “What's up? You found it?”
Oh. She meant the book in my hands. I looked down at it, a deep vibrant red, glossy and sleek and the title 'A love to remember,' written in gold lettering.
The biggest bad luck of the century. This stupid, dumbass book just gave me an experience to remember. One that'll haunt me for the rest of my life. My features contorted with rage, my lips pressed into and thin line, and with a flick of my wrist I sent the book flying towards her.
Melissa's jaw dropped, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her face was a picture of shock, as if someone had just told her that the sky was green and the grass was blue. “What'd you do that for?!”
“You should never have sent me to get that cursed piece of literature," the words spilling out of my mouth with venomous intensity.